Nate shifted on his feet a little watching the way they hugged each other tightly. It was obvious to him that they were very close and had been through a lot together. He rarely saw that kind of love while hanging around taverns, but he had seen and longed for it. Turning to look away from them, he tried to give them privacy, but his ears were just too good. He could hear Mark's loving words that had absolute faith in him. While Jack's reply held a shyness as he brushed off the credit to Tiidgein. Nathan glanced back in time to see Tsun walking up the steps as he regaled to them. "There is no law that says a Beastmaster can't use his beast to join him in glorious battle." Tiidgein puffed up his little chest as he stationed himself on Jack's shoulder, before sneezing a tiny jet of thin flame from his nose. The grass by Mark caught fire, but Mark quickly snuffed it out with his boot, chuckling as he mumbled out. "Great... Now we're going to end up with a hoard of pets around our house." Rubbing Tiidgein's chin, Jack chuckled before walking toward Nathan. Nathan straightened up, stepping aside a little to let Jack observe the bone bridge over the foggy abyss.

The second he was close enough to realize that, Jack froze in place. Nathan smirked to himself a little. He could practically smell the fear rolling off Jack. Taking a step back, Jack groaned out softly under his breath. "Why do these people enjoy building things around or near these endless pits? Why couldn't we cross over a tiny stream or a field of flowers?" Feeling playful and a little sassy, Nathan fearlessly started to walk across the bone bridge. Since he could fly, falling wasn't a fear he had anymore. So, he pretended to balance on the rounded thick bones as he jeered back over his shoulder. "Oh, they have those too. Only the stream and flowers are WAY down there! So far down that by the time you see them... you've already dead from a heart attack." Nathan leaned out between two ribs to peer down, then looked to Jack. Jack was so uncomfortable seeing him pull such a stunt, that he crossed his arms and glared at him, prompting Nathan to laugh softly. Straightening up, Nathan casually started to walk normally across the bridge, but stated teasingly over his shoulder. "I'm kidding... I think. Never fallen into one myself... but if you do, come back up here and tell me." Nathan flashed Jack a wicked grin over his shoulder, before humming to himself as he hopped off the end of the bridge.

As Mark walked up behind Jack, Nathan heard him whisper over Jack's shoulder. "You break his wings and I'll shove him over. Leaning against the end of the bridge, Nate shouted back with a bright grin. "I heard that!" Mark smiled at Jack and Jack smiled even brighter in return. Nathan then watched Mark encourage Jack to go first. Jack inched slowly across the bridge, trying desperately not to look down or misstep. While behind him, Mark held his hands out discreetly toward Jack's waist, awaiting to grab him if he did slip. Nathan straightened up off the end of the bridge, reaching out in case he had to grab Jack's arm at the end. Jack's legs were shaking and his hands shook against his chest as he tried to make himself as small as possible on the bridge. Finally reaching the end, Jack slipped a little as he stepped off, causing Nate's hand to touch him with inhuman speed to catch him. Jack was fine though. He'd just stumbled a little on his shaky legs. Removing his hand just as fast to keep Jack from feeling his touch, he glanced at Mark. He expected Mark to growl or glare at him for touching Jack. Instead, Mark just nodded to him like he was thankful that he'd acted as fast as he had... even if Jack wasn't in that much danger of falling into the abyss at this point.

Mark stepped down after Jack, surprising Nate by tapped his arm in passing. Was the wolf actually warming up to him? Why? How had he managed to get him to come around? Looking to Jack like he might hold the answers to it, he saw him press his back to the large wooden doors. Closing his eyes, Jack took deep breaths a little too quickly to really be all that relaxing. That's when he got it and smiled to himself. Jack never would have crossed it if he hadn't teased him. He'd distracted him without meaning too. Crossing his arms over his chest, Nathan felt a little proud of himself for doing something that just came naturally to him. The entertainer in him always surprised him every now and again. Jack took his reaction differently though. Pointing a stern finger at him, Jack's voice quivered when he snapped out breathlessly. "Not a word." Nathan raised his hands in surrender but kept smiling warmly at him. He wasn't going to say anything. He'd already made the joke that he wanted to say. He didn't feel like digging into Jack more. Mark tried to open the door, but when it didn't budge, he gestured for Nate to help. Inching up to it, he put his hands on the door with him, prompting Jack to turn and help too.

Pushing the doors open, Nathan's body was hit with the sudden warmth that came from inside. He hadn't realized the outside was even cold, until the warm fires within washed over him. It was the very definition of a warm welcoming. Stepping inside, Nathan gawked at the place and thought he might cry. The place was a giant mead hall. Complete with a hearth cooking fresh meat on a spit and tables loaded down with all kinds of delicious Nordic food that reminded him of homecooked meals. Then there was a room to the side entirely dedicated to the largest alcohol barrels that Nathan had ever seen. Everyone was drinking and the liquor was endless! Licking his lips, Nathan started to wonder off like a hungry Draugr toward the table and kegs of wine. He was in paradise and NEVER wanted to leave! Mark grabbed his wing to keep him from wondering off though. Nathan turned to hiss at him, but Mark suddenly let him go to rush up beside Jack. Pointing at people that were chatting around the hall, Mark started giddily telling Jack their names and their deeds of old. While Jack just smiled at Mark, clearly taking his word for it.

Nathan listened with sudden fascination. The people in this Hall weren't just anyone. They were famous! All of them heroes that defined Skyrim's history. Characters from bedtime stories that he grew up listening too. There were so many people of different races and some of them Nathan had never seen in his life. Yet, here they were. All talking and drinking like old friends enjoying a party. Even the Bards that were playing in the corner kept the place lively and pleasant. Starting to make his way down the steps with them, he couldn't help sliding his finger along the wooden banister as an old bet came to mind. Checking his finger, he chuckled out mostly to himself. "What do you know... No dust. Ha! That Orc owes me thirteen gold!" A Nordic man in nice robes walked up to him as he stepped off the last step, holding out a tray of wine filled goblets as he asked. "New arrival? Care for a drink, friend?" Nathan picked up the goblet without a second thought to it. Bringing the goblet to his lips though, he stared at the golden rose design on the goblet and the blood red wine. Flashes of Sanguine's tattoo and the curse Daedric wine slipped into his head.

Quickly putting the goblet back on the tray, he looked toward the others with a sudden burst of worry. Tiidgein and Jack were going up to a table loaded with mouthwatering food. Rushing up as fast as he could, he grabbed Tiidgein by his muzzle to keep his little jaws from biting into a smoked honey glazed goat leg. With his other hand, he grabbed Jack's wrist to keep him from picking anything up. Leaning over Jack's shoulder, Nathan informed him seriously. "Don't eat the food or drink anything. You do... and you'll never be able to go home." He wasn't sure if it was true for this place, but he didn't think they should risk it. After all... He didn't see anyone even trying to leave. Mark moved closer to him, crossing his arms as his eyes narrowed in suspiciously on him, when he asked. "Ya? How do you know this?" Nathan narrowed his eyes back on Mark, dryly sneering back. "You're not the only one with ties to Daedric Lords, ok? Just trust me." Mark tensed up, pulling Jack away from Nathan to whisper defensively. "Did you know about that? We can't trust him. He could be in league with-"

Nathan couldn't help puffing himself up as he stated aloud. "I can still hear you... And for your information, I was sent to help. Alduin affects everyone, not just mortals. Stealing souls that aren't his has made him enemies. Enemies that have been helping you whether you have known it or not." Mark pointed a finger at Nathan over Jack's shoulder, snapping out. "This is a private conversation. Plug your ears or something!" Nate pulled a squirming Tiidgein off the table, pulling him into his arms to hold him better, while sarcastically retorting back. "I don't think that will help. I'm still kind of new to all of this." Jack wedged himself between them better, keeping them at arm's length from the other, commanding them seriously. "Guys, not now. We're here for Alduin. Let's not lose sight of that. Let's just ask around for people to help." Nathan exhaled heavily, until he and Mark both noticed someone walking over. Mark nudged Jack and Jack slowly turned to face the approaching Nord. The blonde fair faced Nord moved closer, but Nathan couldn't help slinking away from him. He wasn't in the mood to be crowded right now.

The Nord extended out his arms, his neutral expression brightening up into a sweet expression as he told Jack. "Welcome Dragonborn! Our door has stood empty since Alduin's arrival. We have been waiting for you." Nathan blinked, taking in this Nord's appearance. Something about him felt off. Nord's weren't usually this happy to meet anyone. Plus, he felt a weird energy coming from him. It was like he was trying to hide if he had magic by... using magic, but it wasn't possible. Even being only half-Breton, he could sense magic. Yet, whatever the aura was, it was trying to make him think he had nothing to hide. All around them the music faded, and all eyes turned to look at him. Shuffling his feet a bit, Jack asked the man anxiously. "You knew I was coming? How?" The Nord chuckled, proudly regaling to him. "Shor told us. By Shor's command, we sheathed our blades and venture not the veil's dark mist. But three await your word. To loose their fury upon the perilous foe. Gormlaith, the fearless. Glad hearted in battled. Hakon, the valiant. Heavy handed warrior. And Felldir, the old. Far seeing and grim." The names sounded familiar, but Nathan couldn't recall where he had heard those names before.

Jack shuffled his feet uncomfortably now, looking rather guilty when he softly asked the Nord. "Can I speak to Shor? Is there no one else that can help me?" The Nord's face and tone took on a fatherly like quality when he placed a hand on Jack's shoulder and told him. "Shor is not here. He graces our presence very rarely. He said to tell you... you must finish what you started... all those years ago." Nathan narrowed his eyes on the Nord more. Watching his face very closely. When Jack turned to look at Mark, the Nord's pale blue eyes suddenly locked with Nathan's. In that moment, the man's shields came down and Nathan was flooded with just a hint of the power he was hiding. This man wasn't dead. He was a god! He was SHOR! A light smug grin pulled at the man's face, before he gave him a wink. Then the grin faded just as quickly from the man's face and Nathan uneasily debated with himself on whether to tell the others or not. Though from the look on the man's face now, he wanted him to say nothing. Who was he to defy a god of Shor's power? He had more power in one finger, then any Daedric Lord had in their whole body! That wasn't even counting the world battles he was known for.

Turning his attention to something safer, he shrugged and asked Jack and Mark in a voice that he was trying to keep cool and leveled. "What's with the look? Do you know them or something?" Jack finally turned away from looking at Mark's worried face to tell him with a fragile demeanor. With just that look, Nathan gasped softly and stated out under his breath in shock. "Oh fuck... You got them killed, didn't you?!" Jack strolled up closer to him, his eyes scanning around them in a panic, when he shushed him and discreetly said. "It's a long story... But years ago, my... alter self, was asked to fight with them... He refused. They fought Alduin and then... He had them burned alive..." Subconsciously, Nathan hugged Tiidgein to his chest like the little dragon was a comforting child's toy, mumbling out to him timidly. "So... This won't be a touching reunion... They may want to kill you." Jack reluctantly nodded, before turning fearful eyes back on the Nord that was still listening. The Nord wasn't surprised in the least and Nathan understood why. The guy had set this up. He wanted the group to finish what they were supposed to have done in the past.

Mark got it too in his own way, when he informed Jack casually. "Sounds like Shor and Akatosh planned this. This is how they plan to fix the time rift... Finish the fight the heroes of old failed because Miraak wasn't there to help them." Nathan glanced at the Nord with curious eyes. Was it weird for him to hear people talk about him like this? Or was that how he spied on people to learn things? Gods were often sneaky like that. Nathan let Tiidgein crawl from him back to Jack's shoulder, his eyes never leaving the Nord's, until the Nord's eyes darted to something. Turning his head to look in the direction his eyes went, he saw three people staring down Jack with dark guarded eyes. That had to be them. Tapping Jack's arm, he pointed to them discreetly to get Jack to confirm that it was them by asking bluntly. "That them?" Jack turned and without saying a single word, Nathan could tell that it was them. He could only hope that Shor knew what he was doing and that this didn't get bloody. To Be Continued...